“It’s absolutely obvious that we can see phenomenal consolidation of society around the ideas of patriotism, some sort of renaissance of Russian patriotism,” he told the TVC television channel on Saturday, April 19.

He stressed that practically the whole society had supported Putin’s position on Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

Peskov said Putin has proved that is the president of both those who agree and those who disagree with his views.

“He [Putin] has shown that he is the president of both those who agree and those who disagree [with his views] as long as they act by law,” he said.

Peskov regretted facts of intolerance towards other people’s points of view in Russia but disagreed that they were widespread.

He recalled Putin’s words about his rejection of such intolerance. “I think this is also a good signal - as the saying goes, every cloud has its silver lining - and it was sent during the direct line [with Putin on April 17],” the spokesperson said.